- JC issues questionnaire to political parties for specific answers on rigging allegations and proofs’ details
- Says replies filed by most parties are not in accordance with TORs of commission
The Judicial Commission (JC), constituted for investigating the alleged malpractices in 2013 General Election, on Monday presented a questionnaire to political parties, asking them to submit responses on alleged poll rigging by April 29.
Chairing the JC meeting, Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Nasirul Mulk said the terms and conditions for the commission were clear but replies of most political parties were not in accordance with the terms of references.
During the commission’s ongoing investigation, the questionnaire was sent out asking three main questions about the 2013 elections. Each question had a further sub-question to ensure clarity in responses.
The questionnaire asked if the political party alleges that the General Election 2013 were not organised and conducted impartially, fairly and justly in accordance with the law, asking for specific reasons if case be true. It should also indicate the material and witnesses on which it will rely on in order to support the allegation.
Secondly, it asks if the elections were manipulated or influenced, pursuant to a systematic order or by design by any one. If it was so, who made the plan/design, what was the plan/design and who implemented the plan/design, it asks. The party should also indicate the material and witnesses on which the party will rely on in order to support its allegations and how was the plan/design implemented.
Thirdly, the questionnaire asked whether the systematic effort included just the National Assembly seats or provincial assemblies’ seats as well. It asks if it was only National Assembly, where did rigging take place and does it include all four provinces or is it just confined to certain provinces.
The commission also asked political parties to submit material and name of witnesses to support their allegations and responses in the questionnaire.
Earlier, as the probe of the alleged rigging moved forward different parliamentary parties submitted records and key documents. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan also participated in the meeting.
Questionnaires were distributed among members of different political parties to help the commission probe the matter.
